Hot Boats & Watercraft How-Tos « Boats & Watercraft

How To: Tie a Butterfly knot to create loops in rope midpoints

This Butterfly knot will accommodate a load in any direction, and is used mostly in outdoor and boating situations, but also could be used as a paddling knot. It's used for securing a loop or many loops in the middle of a rope. Great for mountain climbing and canoeing.

How To: Tie off a suspension ring with a basic knot

This video tutorial is in the Outdoor Recreation category which will show you how to tie off a suspension ring with a basic knot. Weld less rings are used as connection points for a variety of purposes. However, riggers quite often make tying a ring unnecessarily complicated. All that is required is a basic knot and a few hitches. For this you will need to tie the running overhand knot. Take a rope, bend it in half and tie it to a suspension point. Now pass both ends of the rope through the r...

How To: Properly tie and anchor your boat

This video is some real basic stuff about boat tying and anchoring. Watch to see the right way to tie and anchor your boat.

How To: Tie a Japanese knot or Square knot

Learn how to tie a Japanese Knot or Square Knot - a decorative knot that forms a square shape. This is a fine knot for camping, climbing, sailing or Boy Scout training.

How To: Tie the Handcuff knot

Learn how to tie a Handcuff Knot. This is a handy knot for those times when an emergency set of handcuffs are needed :) Firefighters also use this knot, coupled with a half hitch over each loop, as a man harness. This knot can be used in sailing, boating, general use, camping and bondage.

How To: Tie a Klemheist Hitch knot

Learn how to tie a Klemheist Hitch - This is a gripping knot made using a loop of small diameter rope applied to the main line or object. It greatly resists slipping when the pull is parallel to the main line. This is a good knot for sailing, boating, general outdoors and even bondage.

How To: Tie an Anchor Hitch / Bucket Hitch knot

Learn how to tie an Anchor Hitch (also known as a Bucket Hitch) - A very secure means of attaching a rope to an anchor or any other object that you can't afford to loose (like a bucket down a well, I suppose - thus the alternate name). I actually do use this hitch for temporary anchor attachment (preferring to permanently splice instead) as well as for my bucket lanyards when washing down my boat's deck.

How To: Tie the basic knot design of a cargo net

In this video, we learn how to tie the basic knot design of a cargo net. First, tie a double overhand knot on a rope bent into two. After this, make cow hitching on the first loop that you created. Next, make a second double overhand knot followed by cow hitching the second loop. After you do this, you will be able to size up for use! To make this, you must have some prior knowledge of how to tie different knots. If you don't, you won't know how to make the shapes. Use a picture as a referenc...

How To: Make a canopy for your boat

You can make your own canopy for your boat and save hundreds of dollars from the store bought ones. You’ll need 1 inch pvc pipe, some nuts and bolts and you‘re set. You’ll set you’re canopy off of some swivel brackets that secure on the pvc pipe with 2 inch screws. This video will show you how to rig everything and you’ll be sitting in the shade in no time.

How To: TIe a decorative noose

In this tutorial, we learn how to tie a decorative noose. First, form a loop and then and wrap the end around the loop thirteen times. Next, take the loose end and stick it into the coils you just made. Use a pencil and long scissors to help you do this. After you are done with this, tie a knot at the end and pull so the loop is tight. You can also clip off the loose end and pull the loop to make it larger if you prefer. When finished, use this as you wish but do not use it for violent activi...

How To: Tie a Heaving Line knot / Franciscan Monks' knot

Learn how to tie a Heaving Line or Franciscan Monk's Knot - a practical and decorative knot used to add weight to the end of a heaving line, or to finish a Monk's belt rope ends. This is a fine knot for camping, climbing, sailing or Boy Scout training.

How To: Tie the trucker's hitch knot for boating

Learn how to tie the trucker's hitch knot. The trucker's hitch knot is one of those boating knots that once you learn it, you wonder how you ever got along without it! Use this knot to cinch down a load on you car top, boat, horseback, you name it. This combination of knots allows the line to be pulled tight as a guitar string. Tie off one end of rope. Lay rope over load to be tied down. Tie a slippery half hitch knot in the middle of the line to form a small loop. With the free end make a tu...

How To: Tie the mooring hitch knot for boating

The mooring hitch knot for boating is a more secure knot than the better known (and easier to tie) slippery hitch boating knot. The mooring hitch knot holds fast while under tension yet can be released quickly with a tug on the free end. Despite it's name, this is a temporary boating knot and not to be trusted to moor a boat or anything else of value! Hope this knot tying instructional video helps you perfect your mooring hitch boating knot. Enjoy! Tie the mooring hitch knot for boating.

How To: Use marine VHF radio

Radio communication is one of the oldest and most effective means of communication via technology, so it's no wonder it's still a popular way to send and receiver signals, especially on the water. Having a Marine radio can be critical when operating a boat on any type of water. There are many uses for a Marine radio, but the most important is to send a distress signal — here’s how to do it.

How To: Install Teleflex QC II steering cables on a boat

If you're looking to replace or just add cables to your steering this video tutorial is just what you need. You'll find out how to install Teleflex QC II steering cables on your boat in no time at all. Just pay attention to the video, take any notes, and good luck!

How To: Tie a Blood Knot

Learn how to tie a Blood Knot - Used in sailing as a somewhat decorative stopper knot or on the business end of a Cat 'O Nine Tails (hence the Blood Knot's name). This knot can be used in sailing, boating, general use, camping and bondage.

How To: Tie the quick release knot

Here is a good knot. Do you know it? It's the quick release knot. Check out this instructional knot tying video that demonstrates how to tie the Quick Release knot. Just follow the simple instructions outlined in this boating tutorial and learn how to tie a Quick Release knot. Knot tying is a breeze with this video. Start practicing and reel in the big fish!

How To: Install a switch panel on a boat

When you have so much technology on one small boat, things are bound to get confusing. That's why having a big enough switch panel is a great way to keep track of all the different switches that your boat has. In this tutorial, you'll find out the steps needed to insatll a switch panel on a boat. Depending on how much experience you have with using tools, this video may be a tad bit difficult. So sit back and pay attention. Good luck!

How To: Tie a Bowline on a Bight with a knot tying animation

Learn how to tie the Bowline on a Bight Knot for boating. This animated knot tying tutorial is the best you'll find. With this knot tying how to, you can tie the Bowline on a Bight Knot fast or slow, or pause it at every step along the way. Learn to tie knots for your next boating trip. Tie a Bowline on a Bight with a knot tying animation.

How To: Tie a Shamrock knot / True Lover's knot

This shows you how to tie a Shamrock Knot / True Lover's Knot - A decorative knot, built from two Thumb Knots, that forms the shape of a shamrock. This is used in sailing, boating, general use, camping and bondage.

How To: Tie the slip knot for boating

This version of the slip knot is basically a uni knot tied with rope and with just one or two wraps around the double line. It does the trick and is easy to tie.

How To: Tie a Draw Hitch or Thief Hitch

Learn how to tie a Draw or Thief Hitch - a means of securing a rope with two standing ends - one end is load bearing, and the other can be pulled to release the knot. I used this knot extensively for raising the mast on my first trailor-sailor - Tie this above the spreaders, stand the mast up, then pull on the release line to untie it without having to climb aloft. This knot can be used in sailing, boating, general use, camping and bondage.

How To: Tie a Bowline on the Bight

Leanr how to tie a Bowline on the Bight - This is a means of tying a bowline in the certer portion of a rope. This knot can be used in sailing, boating, general use, camping and bondage.

How To: Remove a boat from the water for transport & storage

Eddie shows us how to remove a boat from the water in this video tutorial. First, take down the canvases and wrap them up. Now, put the antennas down and drive the boat to the loading dock. Next you will need a large truck that has a hitch and trailer attached to it, and secure everything so the boat stays on and doesn't come off of the trailer. Take the drain plug out of the boat before you transport it, to make it lighter. Transport the boat to your house, and place bricks over the front so...

How To: Tie a Rolling Hitch knot

Learn how to tie a Rolling Hitch - a useful knot for attaching a rope to a railing, post, or another rope where the pull is along the length of the fixed object. It isn't as good at resisting slipping as an Icicle Hitch, but it is a good deal quicker to tie. This is a good knot for sailing, boating, general outdoors and even bondage.

How To: Fix boat transoms with epoxy

Fix the transom of a wood rotten boat with epoxy.

How To: Tie a Trucker's Hitch Knot with a knot tying animation

Learn how to tie the Trucker's Hitch Knot for boating. This animated knot tying tutorial is the best you'll find. With this knot tying how to, you can tie the Trucker's Hitch Knot fast or slow, or pause it at every step along the way. Tie a Trucker's Hitch Knot with a knot tying animation.

How To: Tie an Icicle Hitch knot

Learn how to tie an Icicle Hitch - A superb gripping knot that strongly resists slipping, stainless steel or other smooth surfaces, when the pull is parallel to the object to which it is tied. This is a good knot for sailing, boating, general outdoors and even bondage.

How To: Build a carbon spinnaker pole

This instructional video teaches how to make a carbon spinnaker pole. Learn how to make your own spinnaker pole for sailing both dinghies and yachts.

How To: Tie a great sailor's chain (sea chain) knot

Have a lot of left over rope that you don't need? Looking for an easier way to store your extension cables and the like without getting them all tangled up? Then learn how to make a sailor's chain! This great video shows you the basic steps that you'll take to creating an endless set of slip knots that'll keep your wires, cables and ropes all tidy without.

How To: Tie a Constrictor Hitch knot

Learn how to tie a Constrictor Hitch - a great knot for tying a binding or bundle. It holds incredibly tightly and can be slipped for easy untying. This is a good knot for sailing, boating, general outdoors and even bondage.

How To: Tie a Turk's Head knot - on a cylinder and spherical

Learn how to tie a Turk's Head Knot - a decorative knot used to cover a cylindrical object, or it can be worked into a tight ball or sphere. This is a good knot for sailing, boating, general outdoors and even bondage.

How To: Pump out the waste on your boat for winter

In this Outdoor Recreation video tutorial you will learn how to pump out the waste on your boat for winter. This video is from LIBoatersClub. Take your boat to the waste disposal area and secure it. Remove the cap from the waste tank. Be careful not to drop the cap. Operating the waste disposal unit ashore is very easy. Just switch on the pump, take in some water in to the hose and then attach the hose to the out let on your boat. Hold it tight and open the valve. It will suck out all the was...

How To: Shrink wrap a boat

Shrink wrap your boat for the winter. They use a 19' to show you. Part 1 of 5 - How to Shrink wrap a boat.

How To: Tie the Man Harness from a Tom Fool's Knot

Learn how to tie a Man Harness from a Tom Fool's Knot - used as an emergency harness for hoisting a person. This knot can be used in sailing, boating, general use, camping and bondage.

How To: Tie a Thief Knot

This video shows you how to tie a Thief Knot. This knot looks a Reef Knot to the casual observer and so can be used to determine if a thief is tampering with your belongings bag - secure it with a Thief Knot, and if you find it re-tied with a Reef Knot, you know someone has been messing with your stuff. This is used in sailing, boating, general use, camping and bondage.

How To: Patch a hole in a fiberglass hole

LowkeeLT demonstrates how to patch a hole in a fiberglass boat hull. First, grind around the edge of the hole to make it smooth. Make an angle that goes towards the hull so that the resin won't get caught and create air pockets. Attach kitchen wax paper to the boat as a non-stick material for the poly resin to set against. Then, put down a flexible cutting board by duct taping the two layers on the outside of the hull and pulling it taut. Attach three layers of fiberglass strips with resin to...